The Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove holds a number of different housing units. The sheriff's department is closing two of them by the end of this coming weekend. Corrections chief James Lewis says that'll put even more strain on the county's already-overcrowded jail facilities.

 

Lewis: "There are a number of bad outcomes that could come as a result of this. However, given that, this move was an effort to preserve our workforce out on the street - to preserve those 911 responders - so that when you pick up the phone and you call for a sheriff's deputy, you're gonna get a sheriff's deputy."

 

The 200 male inmates will move to other parts of the correctional center. At least a third of the 150 female inmates will get alternative sentencing - like home detention or work release. The rest of the women will move to the main jail downtown. The closures will save the sheriff's department about $5 million - and avoid the layoffs of around 30 patrol deputies.